Apology on casting Pakistani artists was made under pressure: Karan Johar

He said he was under pressure from Raj Thackeray’s Hindu extremist party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan played a key role in Johar directed film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ (ADHM) which put the film in hot waters. As the film was inching towards release in October last year, MNS enforced a ban on movies featuring Pakistani artists in Bollywood.

Eventually, Johar had to prove his patriotism to get his film release out of trouble. So, he recorded a video statement in which he makes resolve not to ‘engage (in future) with talent from Pakistan’.

In an interview with a host of Indian channel, Karan admitted that he was torn between ideology and circumstance, at the release of ADHM.

“Even though I have my own belief and thoughts on the same, there was a studio and cast to whom I was accountable. That’s why I had to issue the (video) statement, about which I felt terrible about,” he said.